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First Grade Overview

Time4Learning is an online student-paced learning system covering preschool through high school. It is popular as a first grade homeschool curriculum, as an afterschool tutorial and as a summer study or enrichment program.

For first graders, Time4Learning provides language arts, math, science and social studies. Students also get access to an online playground.

Overview of First Grade Learning Objectives

This section provides a summary of the key first grade learning objectives for reading, language arts, and math. A more detailed description of each subject is provided below, including links to detailed descriptions of the hundreds of learning activities. The Time4Learning language arts and math curriculum correlate to state standards.

First grade is a year of highly visible progress in reading and language arts. The major milestones in first grade reading and language arts are:

Knowing the names and sounds of all the consonants and vowels

Understanding phonics concepts such as consonant combinations

Following along, reading, and summarizing simple stories with pictures

Developing an understanding of composition

First grade is also a year of exploration and discovery of the numbers in the world around us. Major milestones for 1st grade math include:

Counting to 100 by 1’s and skip counting

Knowing the addition math facts

Adding and subtracting small numbers

Understanding the value of money

Knowing the units for measurement, time, and weight

Below, there is a more in-depth description of the first grade curriculum for language arts, math, science, and social studies as well information about the online playground.

Do you have homeschool portfolio questions? Get tips and advice about different organization methods, what to include and how Time4Learning can be used as part of your first grade homeschool portfolio.

First Grade Language Arts & Reading - Lesson Overview

The language arts section contains hundreds of learning activities that are primarily based on phonics. Lessons are taught by colorful animated characters that sing, explain, and interact with the students. Reading exercises at the end of each chapter introduce and develop readiness and comprehension skills. As the curriculum constitutes a solid first grade language arts program, correlated to state standards, many homeschool parents use it as their entire curriculum. Non-homeschoolers utilize the lessons for extra practice, an online first grade tutorial, or summer enrichment.

Language arts lessons are organized into a series of chapters that introduce and cover:

Consonants & Short Vowels - Teaches the relationship of sounds to letters of the alphabet. Exercises build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders learn to identify the sight and sound of each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Digraphs & Vowels - Teaches the sounds and letters of the consonant digraphs ck, sh, th; the long vowel digraph ea; and the r-controlled vowel ar. Exercises build phonological awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Digraphs & Long Vowels - Teaches the sounds and letters of the consonant digraphs ng, ch, and the long vowel a. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

R-controlled Vowels, Digraph & Soft C - Teaches the sounds and letters of the r-controlled vowels er, ir, and ur; the consonant digraph wh, and the soft sound of the consonant c. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Long Vowels, Suffixes & Plurals - Teaches the sounds and letters of CVCe words i_e and o_e; the suffixes ed and ing; and plurals s and es. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Soft G and R-controlled Vowels - Teaches the sounds and letters of the r-controlled vowels or and ore and the soft sound of the consonant g. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Long Vowels - Teaches the sounds and letters of the vowel pair ee; the long sound of i with the igh spelling; and the long sound of e with the y spelling. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Long Vowels & Vowel Digraphs - Teaches the sight and sound of the consonant y and it’s vowel digraph ie; and the long o sound of vowel digraphs oa and ow. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Variant Vowels and Diphthongs - Teaches the sounds and letters of the short sound of the variant vowel oo as in book; and the diphthongs ow and ou. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Variant Vowels - Teaches the sounds and letters of the long sound of the variant vowel oo as in spoon; and the variant vowels ue and ew. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Variant Vowels, Contractions, Diphthongs & Compound Words - Teaches the sounds and letters of the variant vowel aw; contractions; the diphthongs oy and oi; and compound words. Activities build phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading skills. First graders will identify each and demonstrate knowledge of high frequency words. An interactive “think and respond” story will build sight word vocabulary, sound-spelling skills and reading comprehension.

Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary & Fluency - Students will learn new vocabulary, read a leveled story and demonstrate comprehension by recalling details. First graders develop fluency through a series of vocabulary, reading comprehension and writing activities that incorporate discovery learning and direct instruction.

First Grade Language Extensions - Lesson Overview

Language arts extensions is a component of the complete language arts curriculum. Most homeschooling parents have their child complete both the language arts and language arts extensions because they correlate to state standards. Non-homeschoolers use the language arts lessons for additional practice, summer enrichment or as a first grade language arts tutorial. Since members have access to both, they can use the exercises in the way that best fits their needs.

Each chapter starts with a story that introduces vocabulary, develops reading skills and enhances phonemic awareness. Through a series of learning activities focused on discovery, recognition, and application, first graders will learn to generate ideas, demonstrate comprehension of a theme, create graphic organizers and write diary entries.

At the end of each chapter, the “Story Creator” teaches first graders to apply their knowledge and use their reading skills to compose grammatically correct sentences and stories.

1st Grade Vocabulary

Time4Learning's first grade vocabulary exercises integrate sight word vocabulary with the sounds of the alphabet in decodable stories. The first grade vocabulary words are initially presented within the context of a story or rhyme. Additional first grade vocabulary lessons are part of 22 thematic units covering oceans, seasons, mammals, plants, early America, and more.

Students improve reading comprehension by reading or listening to literature with an emphasis on vocabulary building. Teacher's guides include lesson plans, 1st grade vocabulary lists and optional printable vocabulary worksheets.

Part 2 - Sounds, Letters & Words:

First Grade Math

The first grade math curriculum contains numerous math lessons, along with printable worksheets, quizzes and chapter tests. It constitutes a solid first grade math program, correlated to state standards, which is important to many homeschooling families. Afterschool users utilize the program as an alternative to a 1st grade math tutor, for test preparation, or for extra practice.

Animated characters present the first grade math lessons in bite sized pieces, at the student's pace. Each chapter builds on the last. First graders are guided through fractions, order of operations, basic algebra, metrics, spatial sense, graphing and probability using interactive prompts and funny stories to bring the lessons to life.

Math lessons are organized into a variety of chapters that introduce and cover:

Number Sense - First grade "Number Sense" teaches how to read, compare, match, and define whole numbers. Lessons also cover counting numbers by twos and fives and even vs odd numbers.

Fractions - First grade "Fractions" teaches the difference between equal and unequal parts. Fractions divided by halves, thirds and fourths are introduced in lessons such as "The Art of Fractions" (below).

Operations - First grade "Operations" starts with math vocabulary. It distinguishes the difference between addition and subtraction, and teaches first graders about place value. Lessons move into addition and subtraction of one and two digit numbers and gives problem solving strategy. Operations ends with lessons on estimation.

Money - First grade "Money" teaches about coin values, how to count money, and how to add and subtract it.

Patterns - First grade "Patterns" teaches students how to identify, sort and classify things by common patterns or attributes. Students learn to identify patterns on a "hundreds chart" and then apply those patterns to skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s.

Algebra - First grade "Algebra" introduces students to algebraic symbols and the commutative property of addition. Lessons also teach number sentences, equal vs unequal, greater than vs less than and solving for unknown numbers.

Shapes - First grade "Shapes" teaches about two and three-dimensional shapes. Lessons cover straight vs curved lines, open vs closed shapes and planes vs solid objects. Students are introduced to special shapes, such as hexagons, trapezoids, and rhombi and are asked to describe and compare them in the lessons.

Positions - First grade "Positions" introduces basic geometry and spatial relationships. Students learn how to identify, locate and move objects according to directional (left, right, up, down) and positional (top, middle, inside) instruction. First graders are introduced to the number line, as well.

Using Shapes - First grade "Shapes" teaches congruent shapes and symmetry. Students learn to match congruent shapes and identify lines of symmetry in two dimensional shapes.

Spatial Sense - First grade "Spatial Sense" teaches how to build and calculate perimeter and area of two dimensional shapes. It teaches how to recognize geometric shapes around s, and how to use one shape to build another.

Time - First grade "Time" introduces different ways that time is classified, such as calendar time and clock time. Students learn about digital vs analog time telling.

Length - First grade "Length" teaches how to use, compare and measure length. Students will choose the appropriate tool and use it to measure different metrics.

Weight - First grade "Weight" teaches different attributes of weight. Students will estimate, compare and measure different objects.

Capacity - First grade "Capacity" teaches how to measure, compare and estimate capacity. It shows students how to identify the best unit and will ask them to place objects in order according to capacity.

Temperature - First grade "Temperature" teaches how to measure temperatures. Lessons introduce fahrenheit and show students how to read a thermometer and compare different readings.

Graphing - First grade "Graphing" reinforces the 'Patterns" chapter by asking students to sort objects. They then learn to create a tally table and record information in pictographs and bar graphs.

Using Data - First grade "Using Data" teaches the basics of statistics, showing students how to compare and make predictions based on the data that they organized into graphs.

Probability - First grade "Probability" teaches the basics of probability. It teaches the difference between principles of certainty, impossibility, likely and least likely. First graders are prompted to identify the differences.

For a more detailed description of the first grade math lessons, please visit our first grade math scope and sequence page.

First Grade Science & Social Studies

The first grade science curriculum contains several lessons, along with worksheets and quizzes, covering a number of topics. Homeschooling families use the curriculum as a supplement to their homeschooling approach while non-homeschoolers use it for afterschool review, as a first grade online tutorial, or for summer enrichment.

Living and Nonliving Things - Students will learn how to distinguish between living and nonliving things by exploring habitats, basic needs, features, and life cycles. Lessons will focus on the classification of animals into scientific categories, with a feature on amphibians.

Earth Science - Students will be shown how to use graphic organizers to show weather patterns and identify seasons. Lessons also cover thunderstorms and the water cycle.

Contributions to Science - Jane Goodall is featured as a contributor to science, allowing children to explore her experience working with chimpanzees in Africa.

The Surface of the Earth - Students learn about the solid materials making up the Earth.

First graders are given access to the second grade social studies lessons as part of their membership.

Second grade social studies is the lowest level available on Time4Learning. This social studies program consists of lessons covering American identity, basic human survival needs, maps and globes, historic places, cultural holidays, patriotism, and jobs. The curriculum is commonly used as a second grade social studies tutorial, for extra practice, or as a homeschool supplement.

First Grade Lessons - The Time4Learning Program Structure

Time4Learning has been refined through years of feedback from educators, parents, and students. First grade subjects are organized into chapters composed of interactive lessons, printable worksheets, quizzes and tests. First graders are guided through the activities at their own pace by an automated system.

When students log in, they choose a subject, select a chapter, pick a lesson and complete the activities. A check-mark tells them where they left off, and completed work is clearly labeled with a check-mark or a gold star. Visual and auditory prompts guide first graders through the lessons making them easy for young learners to follow, and an online playground (controlled by parents) rewards and motivates them to finish their lessons.

Does your child have different achievement levels for math and language arts? No problem. Time4Learning lets you set each individual subject at the appropriate graded level, making this program great for special needs and gifted students.

First Grade Curriculum for Homeschool, Afterschool and Summer Use

Children attending the first grade are being introduced to many new math, language arts, science and social studies concepts for the first time. Fortunately, Time4Learning's online first grade program can be used for homeschool, afterschool tutoring, or summer learning and is a great way to start first graders off on the right foot.

Time4Learning presents first grade curriculum in a style that is both engaging and effective. Kids love the funny sound effects and quirky cartoon characters delivering the material. Animated, interactive lessons feel more like video games than learning exercises. For homeschool and summer usage, the student-paced nature of the program teaches students how to work independently, giving them a sense of ownership over their progress, which is a great motivator.

As an afterschool tutorial, Time4Learning's first grade program can be used to give children the extra support they need. This online tutorial teaches real concepts in a logical progression, reinforcing the basics and building upon them. The interactive lessons within the online tutorials engage students and help them retain the material. Even first graders who are working at grade level can benefit from the online tutorial, as it reinforces what they have learned, whether at home or in the classroom.

Time4Learning is entirely web based, so there is no software to download, no CDs and nothing additional to purchase. Your kids will be able to access the program 24/7 from any computer with an internet connection. It has a low monthly price, requires no contracts and offers a 14 day money-back guarantee.

Time4Learning has helped thousands of families. Why not yours? – Sign up now.